Nairobi: Kenya is set to benefit from the first large-scale climate funding initiative targeting low-emission, climate-resilient dairy systems in East Africa. The six-year program, known as 'Dairy Interventions for Mitigation and Adaptation' (DaIMA), is designed to enhance climate resilience, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and strengthen the dairy value chain through policy reform, capacity building, technology adoption, and green finance.
According to Kenya News Agency, the program is spearheaded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) with USD150 million in co-financing from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), culminating in a total investment of USD358 million. The project, presented at the 9th International Greenhouse Gas and Animal Agriculture (GGAA) conference in Nairobi, aims to directly benefit 2.5 million rural people in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda, while indirectly reaching an additional 15.4 million individuals along the dairy value chain.
Sara Mbago, Regional Director for East and Southern Africa at IFAD, highlighted that DaIMA is focused on transforming the backbone of East Africa's dairy sector. By integrating innovation, investment, and policy reform, the program assists farmers in adapting to climate change, reducing emissions, and creating growth opportunities. The program is projected to boost milk production by 34 percent and decrease emissions by 2.1 million tons of CO2 equivalent over 20 years.
The initiative takes a comprehensive approach to strengthening veterinary and extension services, enhancing breeding and feed systems, restoring degraded lands, and expanding access to climate information. 'A dedicated Green Dairy Financing Facility will unlock climate finance for farmers, cooperatives, and small and medium-sized enterprises, accelerating the shift to low-emission value chains,' added Mbago.
The preparation of DaIMA involves a coalition of partners, including IFAD, GCF, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the FAO Investment Centre, the Global Methane Hub, the Global Dairy Platform, and USAID Food and Agriculture. The program emphasizes inclusion, ensuring women, youth, and marginalized communities are central to climate action and benefit equitably from the transformation.
As climate challenges mount, DaIMA serves as a model for sustainable agricultural transformation, linking innovation, finance, and policy to build a low-emission, climate-smart dairy economy across East Africa. ILRI will provide technical support to the four countries for monitoring, reporting, and verifying GHG emissions through its Mazingira centre.
Appolinaire Djikeng, Director General of ILRI, stated, 'The DaIMA programme represents a major milestone for the dairy sector. By scaling up low-emission, climate-resilient solutions, DaIMA directly supports the implementation of the Paris Agreement, accelerating the sustainable transformation of the dairy sector in the region.'
The dairy sector remains crucial for food security and livelihoods in East Africa but faces increasing pressures from climate change, such as heat stress and drought. Enhancing the productivity and efficiency of East African dairy systems, which reduces emissions and ensures greater resilience, is achievable by equipping smallholder farmers with climate information, improved breeding and veterinary services, better reproduction and feed management, and innovative technologies.
The program is operational through four IFAD projects aligned with national priorities in the target countries, strengthening institutions and policy frameworks while introducing climate-responsive practices like improved feed and fodder systems, manure management, and pasture restoration. It aims to restore nearly 180,000 hectares of rangeland and support more than two million dairy cattle.